Intonation refers to the rise and fall of the voice when speaking. It helps convey meaning, emotion, and intent in spoken English. Understanding and using intonation correctly can make your speech sound more natural and expressive. Intonation is the variation in pitch while speaking. It plays an important role in communication by saying whether a sentence is a statement, question, or exclamation, and by expressing the speaker's feelings.
Examples of Intonation Patterns:
Rising Intonation: Typically used in yes/no questions.
- Example: "Are you coming?"
- Listen for how the pitch rises at the end of the sentence.
Falling Intonation: Commonly used in sentences and WH-Questions.
- Example: "The meeting is in her office."
- Notice how the pitch falls at the end of the sentence.
Now watch this video from your favorite series "Friends" and notice how the intonation differs:
Video owners: Fernanda Carmona, Vanesa Monzón and Rocío Sandoval
Now practice using this liveworksheet, Listen carefully to the audio next to each sentence and decide whether the intonation is falling or rising: